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Baseball

AAA beckons ball players

If it all works out, there might be a time this year when Chris Robinson, Brock Kjeldgaard and Jamie Romak wind up playing in the Pacific Coast League AAA level baseball.

It's one step from the major leagues.

Not bad for the three local players.

Robinson, Kjeldgaard and Romak were at the Rogers London Celebrity Sports Dinner and Auction on Monday.

All three recognize this is going to be a big year for them.

Robinson, from Dorchester, has already had a big year. On Monday, he became the father of twins.

But for the first time in a number of years he's moved away from the Chicago Cubs' organization.

He's just signed a contract with the Texas Rangers organization and will play at AAA Round Rock, Texas.

Romak, from London, had a big year in AAA for the Kansas City Royals.

He hit 23 home runs and will be back at the AAA level.

The one guy who has to make the jump is Kjeldgaard, who was born in Edmonton, but has lived most of his life in London.

Many in baseball will say he's already made a huge jump in his game.

Kjeldgaard started in the minors as a pitcher. After his second year he was turned into an outfielder.

It took some getting used to, but after two years, he began pounding the ball to a pulp.

Last year in A and AA Brevard County in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, he had 24 home runs.

In four years as a hitter, he has 75 minor league home runs.

"Right now, I'm going to start in AA," Kjeldgaard said. "But you never know. We may wind up playing each other at AAA in the same league."

Kjeldgaard seems to have found the right route to his shot at pro baseball, but he wasn't sure he liked the move from the mound to everyday player.

"I didn't like it at first, but I am very thankful now," he said. "You just have to dedicate yourself and I've been lucky to have a couple of decent years."

Romak has it been at it three years longer than Kjeldgaard and he's now coming into his own.

He's also developing a pretty good international career with Team Canada In October he, Robinson and Kjeldgaard were members of Team Canada's gold medal-winning team at the Pan American games. Romak and Kjeldgaard played beside each other in the outfield.

"No one said it would be easy," Romak said.

"It takes a little longer to develop if you are a power hitter and especially a Canadian power hitter. It's starting to come together."